Sample paper · GCSE Higher · grades 4–9

GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

The real Paper 1 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, non-calculator, and all three papers carry equal weight. This sample is 20 original questions in the same content proportions as the Higher qualification — number 15%, algebra 30%, ratio, proportion and rates of change 20%, geometry and measures 20%, probability 7.5%, statistics 7.5% — with no calculator-only items. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 40% / 30% / 30%.

Non-calculatorGCSE Higher

VersionsA only A + B A + B + Csame questions, different order

AnswersQuestions only With answer key Key only

New sheet

GCSE Higher sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)

Maths · GCSE Higher · Paper 1 · Non-calculator · 20 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.The density of a type of plastic is 0.9 g/cm³. Work out this density in kg/m³.
(a)900 kg/m³
(b)0.0009 kg/m³
(c)0.09 kg/m³
(d)900 000 kg/m³
2.The formula for converting a temperature from degrees Celsius, C, to degrees Fahrenheit, F, is F = 1.8C + 32. Work out F when C = 20, and identify what kind of mathematical statement F = 1.8C + 32 is.
(a)68, and it is an equation
(b)36, and it is a formula
(c)52, and it is a formula
(d)68, and it is a formula
3.Two mathematically similar rectangles have widths 5 cm and 10 cm. The perimeter of the smaller rectangle is 18 cm. Work out the perimeter of the larger rectangle.
(a)72 cm
(b)9 cm
(c)36 cm
(d)23 cm
4.In triangle ABC, AB = 5 cm, BC = 3 cm and AC = 7 cm. Work out the size of angle ABC.
(a)120°
(b)150°
(c)90°
(d)60°
5.Two fair six-sided dice are rolled and the two scores are added together. Given that at least one of the dice shows a 5, work out the probability that the total is 8.
(a)5/36
(b)2/11
(c)1/11
(d)1/6
6.Forty pupils in class P and forty pupils in class Q each solved a puzzle. The times, in seconds, were summarised using cumulative frequency. For class P the lower quartile is 24, the median is 38 and the upper quartile is 46. For class Q the lower quartile is 30, the median is 35 and the upper quartile is 44. Write down the statement that correctly compares the two classes.
(a)Q was slower on average and less consistent
(b)Q was faster on average and more consistent
(c)Q was faster on average and less consistent
(d)Q was slower on average and more consistent
7.Which statement about the number 91 is correct?
(a)91 is not prime, because 91 = 7 × 13.
(b)91 is prime, because it is not divisible by 2, 3 or 5.
(c)91 is not prime, because it is divisible by 3.
(d)91 is prime, because it is an odd number ending in 1.
8.A Fibonacci-type sequence begins 3, 5, 8, 13, ... where each term after the second is the sum of the two terms before it. Work out the 7th term of the sequence.
(a)34
(b)68
(c)55
(d)47
9.A car is bought for £12000. Its value falls by 15% in the first year and by 10% in each year after that. Work out the value of the car 3 years after it was bought.
(a)£8748
(b)£9180
(c)£7800
(d)£8262
10.A straight line touches the edge of a circle at exactly one point and does not cross into the circle at all. Write down the term for this line.
(a)chord
(b)radius
(c)diameter
(d)tangent
11.Five raffle tickets numbered 1 to 5 are in a bag. Two tickets are drawn one after the other and the first is not put back. Work out the probability that ticket 1 is drawn first and ticket 2 is drawn second.
(a)1/25
(b)1/20
(c)2/5
(d)1/10
12.Write these numbers in order, starting with the largest: −0.6, 0.45, −0.15, 0.5, −0.09
(a)−0.6, −0.15, −0.09, 0.45, 0.5
(b)0.5, 0.45, −0.6, −0.15, −0.09
(c)0.5, 0.45, −0.09, −0.15, −0.6
(d)0.5, 0.45, −0.15, −0.09, −0.6
13.Solve x² − 100 = 0.
(a)x = 10 or x = −10
(b)x = 10
(c)x = 100 or x = −100
(d)x = 50
14.A water tank is a cuboid measuring 30 cm × 20 cm × 10 cm. The tank is full of water. Work out how many litres of water it holds.
(a)600 litres
(b)6 litres
(c)0.6 litres
(d)60 litres
15.After a translation by the vector $(6 - 2)$ , a point lands on (4, 1). Write down the coordinates of the point before the translation.
(a)(2, −5)
(b)(2, 7)
(c)(6, −5)
(d)(6, 7)
16.On a distance-time graph, a horizontal line segment shows a period when the graph's gradient is 0. What does this tell you about the journey during that time?
(a)The object was decelerating
(b)The object was travelling at a constant, non-zero speed
(c)The object was stationary (not moving)
(d)The object was travelling at its maximum speed
17.An ice-cream van's daily takings, in £, are modelled by a curve plotted against the average temperature that day, in °C. At a temperature of 22°C, the gradient of the tangent to this curve is 14. What does this gradient tell you about the takings at 22°C?
(a)Takings rise about £14 per 1°C fall
(b)Takings rise about £14 per 1°C rise
(c)Takings rose £14 in total, 0°C to 22°C
(d)Takings are £14 at 22°C
18.A drone starts at the point (2, −3) on a coordinate grid. It flies by the vector $(4 6)$ and then by the vector $(- 9 - 1)$ . Write down the column vector that would take the drone straight back to its starting point.
(a) $(- 5 - 5)$
(b) $(5 - 5)$
(c) $(- 5 5)$
(d) $(- 13 - 7)$
19.On a map, where each grid unit represents 1 km, Ravi's house is at (−3, 4) and the library is at (6, 4). Work out the distance between Ravi's house and the library.
(a)9 km
(b)0 km
(c)−9 km
(d)3 km
20.Expand and simplify 2(a + 6) − 2(a − 7)
(a)13
(b)4a − 2
(c)−2
(d)26

How the 20 questions are shared out

Number — 3 questions (15% of the qualification)
Algebra — 6 questions (30% of the qualification)
Ratio, proportion and rates of change — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
Geometry and measures — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
Probability — 2 questions (7.5% of the qualification)
Statistics — 1 question (7.5% of the qualification)

Where an area has fewer printable questions than its share, the shortfall is filled from the other areas. These are original questions, not past papers.